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Friday, January 25, 2013

Mon Traiteur

Jeudi 24 Janvier Mon Traiteur

The great thing about living in Paris is you have your own deli, boulangerie,poissoniere, patisserie, fromager, la poste etc. You're loyal to the purveyors in your quartier and if you're lucky they will remember you and give you the occasional smile.

Coquille St-Jacques, I remember it well. I was 20 and my new boyfriend was so sophisticated that he took me out to dinner at a fancy French restaurant in Philadelphia (I was more used to the local Steak 'N' Ale in the suburbs) and he asked me if I'd ever had Coquille St-Jacques. It was the '70s: NOBODY I knew had ever had Coquille St-Jacques. I was so impressed with my date, and with me for dating him. And I felt so grown up and enchanted with my new cosmopolitan self that it took me about five years to figure out that I don't really like scallops at all...but I still LOVE the memory of that turning point in my life, thanks to Coquille St-Jacques.

A good traiteur and a good boulanger are the cornerstones of French life... :-) Glad you found one to your liking in your neck of the [Parisian] woods, Carol. Great shot of the lovely chocolate lab. Labs always look so sad... Why would he, if his owner "parked" him outside of that traiteur's enticing shop? :-) Bon weekend. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Everything looks so good.This post brings back memories of living in San Francisco many years ago and having the local market where I stopped each day after work. Yes, they do start recognizing you and giving smiles. I miss that.

I loved the coquilles St. Jacques so much that I bought 4 scallop shells at a cookware store some time in the 70's so I could make them at home...which I did about ONCE ...seafood in the midwest was not so great in the 70's. Not to worry, I have since used the shells as soap dishes, mini-garden containers, and for paper clips. Wonder where they've all gotten to...seafood is much better here now.

A light snow is falling this evening in NYC, but I doubt much of it will linger long tomorrow morning. I got an invite from the Met today for the Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity exhibit crossing over here from the Musee d'Orsay. I dare say that it was more beautiful in Paris than it will be here, but the Manet painting on the invite's cover was lovely.

Coquilles St Jacques...delicious. I must taste them again this year. Thank you for the reminder.

Paris Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it, now tripping over cobblestones, living in a 6th-floor garret on l'Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. Read Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris breakfasts.